1988 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1988 Oklahoma State Cowboys football Oklahoma State Athletics logo (1984-2000).svg 150 Big Eight Conference Big 8 11 11 10–2 5–2 Pat Jones 5th Larry Coker 6th Louis Campbell 4th Lewis Field Holiday Bowl champion Holiday Bowl W Won 62–14 vs. Wyoming The 1988 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma State University in the 1988 NCAA Division I-A college football season. Future OSU head coach Mike Gundy was the starting QB for the Cowboys, while senior WR Hart Lee Dykes and junior RB Barry Sanders were both named first team All-AmericanPress Associated 1988-12-08 SANDERS, ROCKER AND THOMAS PACE AP ALL-AMERICA TEAM https://www.deseret.com/1988/12/8/18787091/sanders-rocker-and-thomas-pace-ap-all-america-team/ 2026-10-06 Deseret News en. Sanders won the Heisman Trophy as the nation's most outstanding player for the season. Sanders was also the Offensive MVP of the 1988 Holiday Bowl, and Junior LB Sim Drain III was the Defensive MVP. Schedule The Cowboys finished the regular season with a 9–2 record.1988 Oklahoma State Cowboys Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 1, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/oklahoma-state/1988-schedule.html In 1988, in what has been called the greatest season by an individual player in college football history,Jeff Merron Best individual college football seasons https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/collegefootball/seasons.html ESPN 2007-08-12 Marron wrote, The only serious question when composing this list was "Who's No. 2? running back Barry Sanders led the nation by averaging 7.6 yards per carry and over 200 yards per game, including rushing for over 300 yards in four games. He set college football season records with 2,628 yards rushing, 3,249 total yards, 234 points, 39 touchdowns, of which 37 were rushing (also a record), five consecutive 200 yard games, scored at least two touchdowns in 11 consecutive games, and nine times he scored at least three touchdowns. Sanders also ran for 222 yards and scored five touchdowns in his three quarters of action in the Holiday Bowl, a game that was not included with his season statistics.http://www.holidaybowl.com/game-history/1988.html 1988 Holiday Bowl Summary 2007-12-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20071221175047/http://www.holidaybowl.com/game-history/1988.html 21 December 2007 live 1988 AP Central September 10 w y Miami (OH) Lewis Field Stillwater, OK 52–20 43,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-o-state-tans-skins-5220/173649455/ Tulsa World O-State tans 'Skins, 52–20 September 11, 1988 June 3, 2025 Newspapers.com September 24 w y 18 Texas A&M Lewis Field Stillwater, OK 52–15 50,440 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anniston-star-oh-and-3-struggling/173526012/ The Anniston Star 'Oh-and-3' Struggling Texas A&M can't handle Cowboys September 25, 1988 June 3, 2025 Newspapers.com October 1 w y 13 Tulsa Lewis Field Stillwater, OK rivalry 56–35 45,100 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salina-journal-sanders-explodes-in-o/173437164/ The Salina Journal Sanders explodes in O-State victory October 2, 1988 June 3, 2025 Newspapers.com October 8 w y 13 Colorado Folsom Field Boulder, CO 41–21 41,854 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-sanders-4-td-carry-okla/173765915/ Chicago Tribune Sanders' 4 TD carry Okla. St. by Colorado October 9, 1988 June 3, 2025 Newspapers.com October 15 l y 10 Nebraska 7 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE CSN 42–63 76,432 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star-cornhuskers-outgun-cowb/173766567/ Sunday Journal-Star Cornhuskers outgun Cowboys October 16, 1988 June 3, 2025 Newspapers.com October 22 w y 15 Missouri Lewis Field Stillwater, OK 49–21 46,900 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-mizzou-cant-hold-osu-dykes/173764538/ Tulsa World Mizzou can't hold OSU, Dykes October 23, 1988 June 3, 2025 Newspapers.com October 29 w y 12 Kansas State KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS 45–27 16,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-wildcats-push-pokes/173762369/ The Daily Oklahoman Wildcats push Pokes to limit October 30, 1988 June 3, 2025 Newspapers.com November 5 l 12 Oklahoma 8 Lewis Field Stillwater, OK Bedlam ESPN 28–31 50,440 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-cowboys-earn-praise/173766716/ The Courier-Journal Cowboys earn praise, but Sooners win again November 6, 1988 June 3, 2025 Newspapers.com November 12 w 14 Kansas Lewis Field Stillwater, OK 63–24 40,100 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-sanders-runs-for/173763813/ The Des Moines Register Sanders runs for 312 yards to carry Oklahoma State past Kansas, 63–24 November 13, 1988 June 3, 2025 Newspapers.com November 19 w y 13 Iowa State Cyclone Stadium Ames, IA 49–28 38,163 https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-oklahoma-state-whips-cyc/173765603/ Quad-City Times Oklahoma State whips Cyclones November 20, 1988 June 3, 2025 Newspapers.com December 4 w y y 12 Texas Tech Tokyo Dome Tokyo, Japan Coca-Cola Classic CBS 45–42 56,000 Big hand for a quiet man Rick Telander https://vault.si.com/vault/1988/12/12/big-hand-for-a-quiet-man-although-he-was-playing-in-japan-heisman-hoopla-ensnared-barry-sanders-the-bashful-winner-from-oklahoma-state https://web.archive.org/web/20210913072802/https://vault.si.com/vault/1988/12/12/big-hand-for-a-quiet-man-although-he-was-playing-in-japan-heisman-hoopla-ensnared-barry-sanders-the-bashful-winner-from-oklahoma-state dead September 13, 2021 Vault SI December 12, 1988 June 3, 2025 December 30 w y y 12 Wyoming 15 Jack Murphy Stadium San Diego, CA Holiday Bowl ESPN 62–14 60,178 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-oklahoma-state-rou/173496233/ The Salt Lake Tribune Oklahoma State routs Wyoming December 31, 1988 June 3, 2025 Newspapers.com Rankings November 2025 1988 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 16 NR NR NR 20 18 13 13 10 15 12 12 14 13 12 12 12 11 Coaches 0 16 NR NR NR NR 20 14 13 10 16 12 12 15 14 12 12 12 11 Game summaries Miami (OH) 1988 Miami RedHawks football team Texas A&M 1988 Texas A&M Aggies football team Tulsa 1988 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team Oklahoma State–Tulsa football rivalry At Colorado 1988 Colorado Buffaloes football team At Nebraska 1988 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team Oklahoma State Cowboys white ;text-align:center; autocollapse Oklahoma State Cowboys at Nebraska Cornhuskers – Game summary October 15 #10 Cowboys 0 21 7 14 #7 Cornhuskers 35 14 7 7 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE 76,432 Cornhuskers Strike Early and Often to Continue Domination Over Cowboys With 63-42 Victory https://dataomaha.com/huskers/history/game/1988-10-15-oklahoma-state Omaha World-Herald October 15, 1988 August 26, 2018 First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Leading Passers OKST – Mike Gundy -   NEB –   Leading Rushers OKST – Barry Sanders - 35 carries, 189 yards, 4 TD NEB – Ken Clark - 27 carries, 256 yards, 3 TD Leading Receivers OKST –   NEB –   Missouri 1988 Missouri Tigers football team At Kansas State 1988 Kansas State Wildcats football team Oklahoma State Cowboys white ;text-align:center; autocollapse Oklahoma State Cowboys at Kansas State Wildcats – Game summary October 29 #12 Cowboys 21 3 14 7 Wildcats 14 3 3 7 KSU Stadium, Manhattan, KS 16,000 Flashback October 5, 2006 August 25, 2018 https://okstate.com/news/2006/10/5/Flashback.aspx?path=general First quarter KSU – Washington 13-yard pass from Carl Straw (Porter kick). Wildcats 7–0. OKST – Parker 63-yard pass from Mike Gundy (Blanchard kick). Tied 7–7. KSU – Friedrich fumble recover in end zone (Porter kick). Wildcats 14–7. OKST – Barry Sanders 26-yard run (Blanchard kick). Tied 14–14. OKST – Barry Sanders 38-yard run (Blanchard kick). Cowboys 21–14. Second quarter OKST – Cary Blanchard 35-yard field goal. Cowboys 24–14. KSU – Mark Porter 32-yard field goal. Cowboys 24–17. Third quarter OKST – Hart Lee Dykes 28-yard pass from Mike Gundy (Blanchard kick). Cowboys 31–17. KSU – Mark Porter 37-yard field goal. Cowboys 31–20. OKST – Vance Vice 1-yard pass from Mike Gundy (Blanchard kick). Cowboys 38–20. Fourth quarter KSU – Lee Pickett 1-yard run (Porter kick). Cowboys 38–27. OKST – Barry Sanders 17-yard run (Blanchard kick), 6:38. Cowboys 45–27. Leading Passers KSU –   OKST – Mike Gundy - 15/19, 228 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Leading Rushers KSU –   OKST – Barry Sanders - 37 carries, 320 yards, 3 TD Leading Receivers KSU –   OKST – Hart Lee Dykes - 9 receptions, 127 yards, TD Oklahoma Bedlam Series Oklahoma State Cowboys 2; text-align:center collapsed #8 Oklahoma Sooners (7–1) at #12 Oklahoma State Cowboys (8–1) November 5, 1988 Oklahoma 21 3 0 7 Oklahoma St 7 7 0 14 Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma 50,440 Partly cloudy, 58 F C ESPN Roger Twibell and Lee Corso https://www.soonerstats.com/football/games/box-score.cfm?gameid=891 1988 Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State 2022 SoonerStats.com December 28, 2022 Oklahoma State's Brent Parker dropped a potential game-winning touchdown pass in the end zone with 43 seconds left."A penalty, a dropped pass and Sooners win, 31-28." Eugene Register-Guard. pg. 8F. 1988 Nov 6. Retrieved 2022-Dec-28. right Full game Game highlights left Oklahoma Sooners Oklahoma Oklahoma State Cowboys Oklahoma St Charles Thompson 2/5, 24 Yds Mike Gaddis 18 Rush, 213 Yds, 2 TD Leon Perry 1 Rec, 17 Yds Mike Gundy 18/28, 228 Yds, TD, 3 INT Barry Sanders 39 Rush, 215 Yds, 2 TD Hart Lee Dykes 9 Rec, 122 Yds, TD OU OSU collapsed 1 Oklahoma RushTD Mike Gaddis 13 good R.D. Lashar run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 0 1 Oklahoma 1 44 0:07 RushTD Mike Gaddis 44 good R.D. Lashar run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 0 1 6:52 Oklahoma St RushTD Mike Gundy 4 good Cary Blanchard run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 7 1 Oklahoma 11 80 4:17 RushTD Leon Perry 7 good R.D. Lashar run/pass good/failed/incomplete 21 7 2 Oklahoma St 8 89 3:48 RecTD Hart Lee Dykes Mike Gundy 2 good Cary Blanchard run/pass good/failed/incomplete 21 14 2 2:08 Oklahoma FG 27 R.D. Lashar 24 14 4 13:37 Oklahoma St RushTD Barry Sanders 1 good Cary Blanchard run/pass good/failed/incomplete 24 21 4 8:45 Oklahoma St 8 72 3:12 RushTD Barry Sanders 1 good Cary Blanchard run/pass good/failed/incomplete 24 28 4 2:33 Oklahoma 13 80 6:12 RushTD Charles Thompson 18 good R.D. Lashar run/pass good/failed/incomplete 31 28 31 28 Kansas 1988 Kansas Jayhawks football team At Iowa State 1988 Iowa State Cyclones football team Vs. Texas Tech 1988 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team Coca-Cola Classic (college football) Vs. Wyoming 1988 Wyoming Cowboys football team 1988 Holiday Bowl Oklahoma State Cowboys white ;text-align:center; autocollapse Wyoming Cowboys vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys – Game summary December 30 #12 Cowboys 7 10 28 17 #15 Cowboys 7 0 7 0 Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, CA 60,641 ESPN Bob Carpenter, Kevin Kiley, Sharlene Hawkes First quarter OKST – Barry Sanders 33-yard run (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 7–0. WYO – Randy Welniak 4-yard run (kick). Tied 7–7. Second quarter OKST – Barry Sanders 2-yard run (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 14–7. OKST – Cary Blanchard 33-yard field goal. OKST Cowboys 17–7. Third quarter OKST – Mike Gundy 12-yard pass to Brent Parker (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 24–7. WYO – Randy Welniak 4-yard run (kick). OKST Cowboys 24–14. OKST – Barry Sanders 67-yard run (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 31–14. OKST – Barry Sanders 1-yard run (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 38–14. OKST – Barry Sanders 10-yard run (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 45–14. Fourth quarter OKST – Cary Blanchard 19-yard field goal. OKST Cowboys 48–14. OKST – Mike Gundy 25-yard pass to Hart Lee Dykes (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 55–14. OKST – Chris Smith 5-yard run (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 62–14. Leading Passers OKST – Mike Gundy - 20/24, 315 yards, 2 TD WYO – Randy Welniak -   Leading Rushers OKST – Barry Sanders - 29 carries, 222 yards, 5 TD WYO –   Leading Receivers OKST – Hart Lee Dykes - 10 receptions, 163 yards, TD WYO –   Roster 1988 Oklahoma State Cowboys f 51 Sr John Boisvert C   So Vernon Brown RB Sr Don Cox   11 Sr Hart Lee Dykes WR y   Fr Kenny Ford QB 19 Jr Jarrod Green WR 12 Jr Mike Gundy QB y 23 So Gerald Hudson RB Sr Bill Jones   73 Sr Jason Kidder OG   Robert Kirksey TE Sr Matt Kolb   32 Sr Garrett Limbrick FB 17 So Curtis Mayfield WR Sr Mitch Nash RB 29 So Brent Parker WR 21 Jr Barry Sanders RB y   So Chris Smith QB 59 Sr Chris Stanley OG 93 Jr Vance Vice TE       Web OL   So Cecil Wilson RB 62 Sr Mike Wolfe OT 56 Sr Byron Woodard OT 98   David Bailey DL 1   Mike Clark CB 91   Brandon Colbert DL 58   Torrance Cummings LB 53 Jr Sim Drain III LB Sr Rod Gaines DL 2   Melvin Gilliam CB 31   Devin Jones DL 60 Sr Marcus Jones DL 4   Jason Juhl DB 5   Joe King CB 3   Chris Lowery FS 57   Shawn Mackey DL Sr Greg McCalister   7   Lamar McGriggs SS So Ruben Oliver DL 37 So Bobby Raynor LB   Stacey Satterwhite DL 45   Rod Smith DB 25 Fr Cary Blanchard K y *Pat Jones Larry Coker – Offensive coordinator Houston Nutt – Quarterback/Wide receivers Bill Shimek – Running backs Steve Gardner – Tight ends Brad Seely – Offensive line Louis Campbell – Defensive coordinator/defensive backs George Walstad – Defensive line Kenith Pope – Defensive ends Jonny Barr – Linebackers Awards and honors 1988 College Football All-America Team 1988 All-Big Eight Conference football team Barry Sanders: Heisman Trophy,http://www.heisman.com/winners/hsmn-winners.html Heisman Winners Heisman Trophy https://web.archive.org/web/20090916003323/http://www.heisman.com/winners/hsmn-winners.html 16 September 2009 Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Sporting News College Football Player of the Year, Big 8 Offensive Player of the Year, unanimous first-team All-American Hart Lee Dykes: consensus first-team All-American 1989 NFL draft The following players were drafted into professional football following the season. Player Position Round Pick Franchise Barry Sanders Running back 1 3 Detroit Lions Hart Lee Dykes Wide receiver 1 16 New England Patriots https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1989.htm 1989 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com 2018-03-28 2007-12-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20071221203137/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1989.htm dead References Oklahoma State Category:Oklahoma State Cowboys football seasons Category:Holiday Bowl champion seasons Oklahoma State Cowboys football